ChrisPBacon

I did the same cruise, Transatlantic Eastbound and tipped in dollars as I had some left. Topping up an auto is a bonus for the staff and I am sure they wont mind whatever currency they receive from the major ones used on cruises.

 

 

 

Regards John

I think you're right John. It's a good idea to use whatever you have, even if that means a mix of currencies.

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We did a transition cruise last year and I knew the ship was off to the Europe on its next cruise, so I tipped in Euros. Might be good to see where the ship is going next, because the crew will need local currency.

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As I understand it, you pick your own cabin on a select fare. It doesn't matter if they don't have many left. You should still get your choice of what is left. Another poster said this a few months ago and I advised them to go back to P&O. When you look at the sales pitch for a select fare, the thing that hits you straight away is the ability to pick your cabin.

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It's also important to note that you won't get downgraded.

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Chris. The last thing anyone could say about me is "snobbish". Remember I am the one who is advocating smart casual which is hardly the attire of a snob.

 

 

 

In answer to another poster who stated most P&O cruises are from the UK,. while that is possibly correct, there are fly cruises which are not only around Europe but in the Far East and Australasia for example and various legs of World cruises which require flights and baggage restrictions.

Fair enough Whoops. I just think the comparison you made was a bit off.

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I'm glad someone agrees with me on this. I'm in Manchester and there's a story about two women shopping in a local Tesco in their pyjamas. I do find that a bit 'off', but I don't even pay attention to what type of suit people are wearing ah dinner. If I walked past someone on my way to dinner in a suit and found that someone looked back at me in disdain......I'd find that really bizarre.

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I don't disagree with most of what you say, but I think your comment about wearing a dark suit with a bow tie is akin to wearing trainers, a bit snobbish. Should someone on their first cruise (and not sure whether they will like it) go out and by a tuxedo? As we've ascertained on this thread, when we talk about 'black tie nights' on P&O, we are talking about P&O's interpretation on what black tie consists of.

I don't know why there should be any snobbishness about dress, as long as people aren't in shorts and t shirts.

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I don't think there is any benefit with regards to cabins. We booked a med cruise whilst on board and we were literally offered a choice of around 6 cabins. That was probably because we paid bottom dollar, but still, the choice was very limited. That led me to believe that you never get something for nothing and they were filling up the poorer cabins. No matter where we chose, we had issues and in the end, we had noise from the group that sang until 1230 each night. Maybe we could have spent more and avoided that?

But you do get the benefit of just £50 deposit and they usually chuck in a healthy on-board spend when you book on the ship. We are in the Caribbean on Azura in 4th Feb and we'll definitely be visiting the cruise desk and seeing what we get offered. I would expect the cruise desk to top any online offers in terms of OBC, because otherwise, why rush to book on the ship. We will check the offers online before we go, so we can compare.

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Sorry but you don't have a good agent

 

You need to build a relationship with a good agent who'll look out for you and get to know you

We thought we had a great agent. They know us and our relatives by name. They ring us up when prices are out. We did get a discount on this cruise, or the one before. But it was because they had the P&O rep in town doing a presentation and it was made clear that the discount would only be offered at the event. So I think that came from the rep, not the agent.

Having inadvertently got the agents copy of the invoice sent to me and seen the commission they are getting, I feel ripped off. Our agent also insists on the full price 16 weeks before the cruise date....much earlier than P&O request the money. The agents receipt I got also had the actual payment due date on it. I know agents will want to get the money in on time, but not so far in advance,

As you say, they are not a good agent, but that has put me off using another. I'll book on the cruises themselves and get the low deposit and the better spending money.

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Sorry, but I receive all communications from P&O by email, even though I book with an agent. Inferior service? It makes no difference. P&O have my email on Cruise Personaliser. You only get discounts from the TAs by telephoning and asking. 5% is a nice discount.

I'm with Pete on this. Our itinerary has changed and we got nothing from P&O. There are certain things I ring P&O about, and they tell me I must go through my agent. Added to that, my agent doesn't really give me any real discount.

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The top level allows the streaming of films, so that should do it

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It used to cost around £60 for a set amount of minutes. Last time I did it, I got 250 minutes for that. I thought I'd download my newspaper, but I could barely check my emails it was so slow. I'm sure the £24 option is really fast, but all I tend to want is to post pics to my friends on Facebook etc. So I just do it in a bar when in port. That's how I'll do it in the Caribbean in Feb.

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The two big ones are about £12.50 and £24 per 24 hours. The first one allows you to go on Facebook and other media. The higher level allows full streaming of videos etc. There are also a couple of lower options, but I suspect they would be awful.

Seems like a lot of money to me. When I get off a ship, I just follow the crew to the nearest wifi point.

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I have the opposite experience. The only reason we got a discount from them is because it was a P&O event. When I paid my balance, I got two receipts. My genuine one and one that was for the agents eyes only. They got a healthy booking fee and passed none of it onto me.

The trick is to see if you get a good discount and if not, go to P&O. But don't assume the agent is always the best option. Some people have said on here that the agent discounts are getting less and less. When you book with an agent, P&O won't deal with you at all. You have to go through the agent. I also believe that despite being on a Select fare and first in line for upgrades, going through an agent means you're less likely to get one. They have made less money from you if you go through an agent.

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Hi Clebe

Don't bother either drinks package. It's a wine package that doesn't really save you much. There's no beer package.

Not used room service, but will do on the next cruise.

The auto gratuities are around £5.50 per person, per day....added possibly midway through your cruise. If you want them ok, you need do nothing. If you don't want to pay them, you sign a form in reception telling them what you do want to pay.

Auto upgrades aren't always what they seem. You don't always get what seems like an upgrade, but they call it that because it's on a better deck. If you are a first timer with P&O, you are more likely to get a free upgrade if you asked to be on the auto upgrade. I don't know about a 4 day cruise, but I've never got on a cruise that has any available upgrades. There's normally a sign put up at reception, that says no upgrades available. If you want a specific upgrade, I'd do it before you go. But bear in mind, you can only go higher (so paying more) and if you are on a select fare. You also can't downgrade from a select to saver, even if you are paying more for the upgrade.

P&O are fine. I have my gripes about them but usually around customer services before I go. The service on the ship is great.

Enjoy

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Thanks

We go to barbados in February and was after looking to book another one if we like it

 

 

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Caribbean cruises up to March next year are already out.

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You are correct, it is indeed about different outfits.

 

What I cannot understand is why there is a debate about that.

 

'Black Tie' consists of: a dress shirt, dress trousers, dress shoes, a bow tie, sometimes a cumberbund, and a black or white jacket known as a 'tux'.

 

It is not a 'suit' of any kind, black or otherwise.

 

As I've mentioned, all men, in IMHO, look stunning in it and why on earth wouldn't a man want to do that. Us women get most of the comments on how stunning we look, surely it's nice when men can get such comments as well.

 

Happy Christmas and have a fantastic day. :)

Fair point. Have a great Christmas.

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I am confused as to why 'black tie' is such a dreadful thing to wear.

 

Yes, my husband likes taking it off at the end of the evening (he gets very hot) but equally he loves wearing it.

 

It is only a few evenings, not every night; there are cruise lines that don't require black tie on any night so why choose one that does require it if you don't want to wear it, and last but not least, MEN LOOK STUNNING IN BLACK TIE!! END OF.

 

Wear it and enjoy all the women thinking you look great!!

 

HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!! [emoji1][emoji1][emoji319][emoji320]

 

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Not sure anyone is saying that. The debate is about a tux, DJ of black suit. Nobody is arguing about whether they should wear black tie.

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As several people have pointed out, the vast majority of men wear Dinner Jackets on Formal Nights rather than dark suits. However, at the end of the day its up to you what you wear.

I have to say that's not my experience, especially as the cruise age comes down. I think many people don't always want to spend money on a dinner jacket for 2-4 nights on a cruise, when they have suits sat in a wardrobe.

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I have a black suit, that I can use for other occasions, rather than have it sit in the wardrobe, only coming out for two cruises a year. I wouldn't want anyone to think (reading this thread) that they would feel out of place if they wear a normal black suit. They wouldn't.

But I do have a Caribbean shirt for that night.

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I cruise quite a lot and just wear a normal suit. But I do have a white DJ for the black and white night.

My advice....take a black jacket, whether a tux of normal suit. It really doesn't matter.

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Yes, it is

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Regarding coffee, there's also a Costa on board. You do pay for your coffee there, but I presume (not being a coffee drinker) that they may do a better cup? Although you pay for the coffee, and cake you have to go with it is included in the price of the coffee.

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On P&O you can take your own booze on board. Well a reasonable amount. They won't take it off you as you board. But this is for drinking in your cabin. If you brought it to the dining table, they would charge you 'corkage'.

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Been on a few times and hopefully I have my facts right.

Yes, there are sun loungers at the pool that has a cover.

There is a pianist in one of the bars, but I think it's more sedate than lively.

No drinks package as you mean it. They have a wine package but not really worth it. IMO

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